By JIM BUTLER

There’ll be no cubs in the Bolton Bears’ den until August 2025 at the earliest.

The Rapides Parish School Board at a special meeting Thursday evening voted to turn the century-old plant into an academic and performing arts magnet school for grades 6-12, with sports, effective with the 2024-25 school year. 

Pre-K through fifth grade will be added for 2025-26, barring unforeseen remodeling issues.

Rapides Academy 6-8 will be absorbed by Bolton next year; Phoenix Magnet Elementary pre-K to 5 the following year or thereafter.

Three substitute motions to the published agenda were offered at the session’s outset.

Wilton Barrios proposed delaying a decision until January, allowing more time for board staff to gather information.

Steve Berry proposed a pre-K to 12th grade facility.

Sandra Franklin proposed grades 6-12 at the Vance Avenue plant.

In an atmosphere much different than the tumult of the March meeting when he first broached the issue, Supt. Jeff Powell reviewed reasons for his proposal as well as summarizing the work of an advisory committee in the months since.

He said a new role for Bolton meshes with the system’s operational strategy and its academic plan. He urged the board to avoid further delay, voicing support for what ultimately became the decision.

Dwayne Vines, who is only the 11th principal since Scott M. Brame was the first at Bolton’s helm, said all involved need answers and urged action, not delay.

The 6-12 option in the short term and pre-K-5 later was a clear favorite among the 20 or so speaking from the audience.

There was a clear preference that sports be retained, a feeling that arts, academics and athletics can coexist.

After an hour or so of audience comment the board opted for Willard McCall’s request for a five-minute break before board discussion.

Some stretched their legs, others used facilities, some engaged in chat. There is no cloakroom; lobbying, if any, was in the open.

Break over, Franklin amended her motion to create an academic magnet conservatory school grades 6-12, with athletics, effective next August. The motion omitted the earlier grade levels.

During debate Barrios expressed concern that residents outside Alexandria had not been involved in the Bolton discussion and said every school, not just Bolton, is important.

Member George Johnson said he thought the community wants the board to consider pre-K-5 though he’s not for it.

Barrios withdrew his motion to delay and President Stephen Chapman summed up:

“Do we want to move forward? If so, what is it?” saying he wasn’t insinuating one thing or another.

On call for the question, Franklin’s motion failed.

With Barrios’ withdrawn that left Berry’s. It passed 6-3, Franklin, McCall and Barrios dissenting.